Tucker, GA — The DeKalb County District Attorney recently announced the conviction of a man who murdered someone at a hotel in Tucker.

The jury reached a verdict in 13 minutes, the District Attorney’s Office reported.

“Jurors returned guilty verdicts on Wednesday (Feb. 9) against 47-year-old Sean Henderson on charges of Murder, Felony Murder, Aggravated Assault, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in connection with the shooting death of 36-year-old Derrick Hinton,” the District Attorney’s Office said.

The incident happened on Aug. 29, 2019 at The Knights Inn on Lawrenceville Highway. Henderson and Hinton lived there.

“According to the investigation, Henderson shot Hinton after a brief argument in the doorway of the room where Hinton, his girlfriend and their children resided,” the District Attorney’s Office said. “Witnesses heard gunshots and saw a shirtless man standing over Hinton with a gun before walking away from the room. As the suspect walked away, he told the victim’s girlfriend, who had been standing in the doorway of another room, that Hinton, ‘…was lookin’ at me.’ Hinton was shot three times. His girlfriend rendered aid until police responded to the scene. Hinton was transported to Atlanta Medical Center when he succumbed to his injuries.”

The investigation found that Henderson asked a friend to pick him up and take him to a new hotel. He told the friend about the murder. Henderson was also caught on surveillance video fleeing the scene. He was arrested the next day and had the murder weapon. He was also identified in a lineup.

“He initially denied shooting the victim, but claimed at trial that Hinton had tried to attack him with a plastic broom, so he shot him in self-defense,” the District Attorney’s Office said. “Following his conviction, Defendant Henderson was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole plus 5 years by DeKalb Superior Court Judge Asha Jackson.”

Senior Assistant District Attorney Allison Layton of the Homicide and Gangs Unit prosecuted the case. DA Investigator Matt McLendon, Victim Advocate Yuzellie Garcia, and legal intern, Steve François provided assistance. Detective C.A. Tappan of the DeKalb County Police Department led the initial investigation, the District Attorney’s Office said.

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